In less than a year, Des Moines Water Works customers will be paying more for their water.

In less than a year, Des Moines Water Works customers will be paying more for their water.

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Updated: 6:25 PM CDT Oct 28, 2015

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WEBVTT KCCI'S MARCUS MCINTOSH IS LIVE WITH MORE ON THE RATE HIKE AND ITS RIPPLE EFFECT. MARCUS: IT IS A RATE INCREASE THAT NOT ONLY PLAYS OUT IN DES MOINES BUT IN THE SUBURBS AS WELL. FOR DES MOINES WATER WORKS , -- DES MOINES WATER WORKS CUSTOMERS THIS IS GOING TO COST , YOU MORE. DRINKING WATER IS AN INCREDIBLY SCARCE COMMODITY. MARCUS: STOWE, GENERAL MANAGER OF DES MOINES WATER WORKS SAYS THE RATE INCREASE IS NOT ABOUT THE LAWSUIT WATER WORKS FILED EARLIER THIS YEAR AGAINST DRAINAGE DISTRICTS IN 3 NORTH WEST IOWA COUNTIES. HE SAYS IT IS ABOUT THE INCREASING COST TO MAKE SURE THE WATER COMING OUT OF YOUR TAP IS SAFE. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS 50 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT AND WE ARE FACING MORE POLLUTED WATER IN THE RACCOON AND DES MONIES THAN WE HAVE FACED IN THE PAST AND ALL THAT MEANS HIGHER COSTS FOR ALL OF US WHO USE DRINKING WATER. MARCUS: HE COMMENDS THOSE WHO ARE CONSERVING WATER BY USING MORE EFFICIENT APPLIANCES BUT THAT MEANS LOWER REVENUE AT THE SAME TIME THE COST OF TREATING WATER IS ON THE RISE. AND IT IS NOT JUST DES MOINES GETTING HIGHER WATER BILLS. SUBURBS LIKE WEST DES MOINES, ANKENY AND URBANDALE BUY WATER FROM DES MOINES AND WILL ALSO BE PAYING 10% MORE. IT IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY TRICKLE DOWN TO THEM BECAUSE OUR COST IS GOING TO GO UP AND WE ARE CONCERENED ABOUT THE IMPACE -- THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR CUSTOMERS. MARCUS: URBANDALE VALUES ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DES MOINES WATER WORKS BUT ADMITS IT WILL LOOK AT ITS OPTIONS. IT IS ONLY PRUDENT AND WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST. WE HAVE DONE A STUDY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS SOURCE WATER AVAILABLE TO US. MARCUS: URBANDALE HAS PURCHASED SOURCE WATER IN SOME QUARRIES THAT COULD EASE ITS DEPENDENCE

Des Moines metro residents will pay more for water

In less than a year, Des Moines Water Works customers will be paying more for their water.